The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1891. A New Export

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 12, 28 July 1891, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1891. A New Export

We publish, under the heading of commercial uews, a communication from tbe London branch of tbe New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, which should prove of the greatest interest to the farmers in this, as well as all other parts of the colony. It will be seen that a new staple export has been added to our list, and potatoes, which have hitherto been of little value to the producer, or profit to the merchant, changed into a remunerative article of commerce. A beginning- has already been made, and £4 per ton realised in England, on a comparatively small shipment. We all remember the sudden turn in the tide of the affairs of sheep farmers, caused by tbe market discovered for frozen meat a few years ago, and recognise the huge industry i n - to which that has developed in the present time. There were certainly accidents aud misadventures at first, but such had little effect in retarding the thorough development of a trade which men of the most ordinary capacity could see would be of immense commercial benefit both to tho producer and to tbe consumer. That New Zealand can uudertake to supply her share of root crops to the markets of the world may now be accepted as an established fact. There is however one word of warning we would like to give. We all know bow the market for New Zealand hemp was ruined, almost beyond redemption, by the wretched stuff which was attempted to be foisted on foreign buyers, by manufacturers who wero as unscrupulous as they were ignorant. There is no need for potato growers to follow this mistaken ex ample. Tbey need cultivate none but the very best tubers, because even tho tbe most iguorant farmer knows that it is cheaper to plant good than bad seed. The classes of potato suitable for shipment are given in the article now under notice so "he who runs may read " and the possibility of error is reduced to a minimum. Io formation as to packing aud shipping is naturally vague, but of this we arn assur sd, that now a profitable market lias been opened shipping facilities will be afforded on the same scale as for th<3 frozen meat trade. Agricultural farmers have long waited for this change in their fortunes, and we have confidence in tbe belief that it will turn out profitable..

The colony as well as the shareholders are to be congratulated on the news cabled from London that the Bank of New Zealand was not only able to declare a dividend of 5 per cent, but pass .£20,000 to the Reserve Fund. This will be one more reason for restored confidence in the stability and prosperty of this colony which only wants " political rest " to be the finest country in the world. On Saturday we mentioned that some youns* station hands had left for Wellington en \rowte for New South Wales to meet the demands for shearers of the Pastoralists' Union. Yesterday several more went down by the mail train. As the whole of them are fine strapping young fellows, in the prime of life, besides being of quiet and steady habits, they are certain to succeed, and we hope they will fully realise their expectations of doing well and " coming back with a big cheque," but for all that it is with a feeling of bitter regret that we see such splendid colonists leaving our shores — even temporarily. One of the most heartless cases of cruelty that has ever been made public in this colony, was exposed at an enquiry which has just been made by Messrs. Theo. Cooper and F. G, Ewington into the charges made by Edward M'Manus against soma of the male attendants in Avondale, Asylum, Auckland. Their report to the Government shows that they find that one of the attendants was guilty of beating with a batten a deaf and dumb imbecle child, which they denounce as an act of cruelty. He is therefore to be dismissed. That this punishment is inadequate for the offence must be apparent to everyone. However great tbe provocation may haye been, the person who could beat with a batten a helpless deaf and dumb imbecile child richly deserved to have a taste of the cat-o'-nine-tails, laid on with a heayy band. • The following paragraph, which appeared in the Manawatu Times of Saturday, is somewhat misleading : — " A meeting of the Committitfce of the Racing Club will be held shortly to endeavour to settle the difficulty which has arisen with Feilding with reference to the racing fixtures of the two Clubs, and it is to be hoped that someway will be seen out of the difficulty, though at present it seems nothing but one of the Clubs giving way will clear matters." We may state there is no " difficulty " so far as the Feilding Club is concerned. The " difficulty " has been entirely created by the Palmerston Club seeking to encroach in the rights of the Feilding Club.